Automatic film-protecting screen for kinetoscopes.



, A. P. GALL. AUTOMATIG FILM PROTECTING SGREEN FOR KINET OSOOPES.

APPLIGATION FILED 111111117, 1908,

Patented July 18,1911.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

Kim): c MW A. F GALL. AUTOMATIC FILM'YROTEGTING SCREEN FOR KINETOSCOPES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17. 1

Patented July 18, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

imziw': 5

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH F. GALL, OF WEST ORANGE, NEV-f JERSEY. ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO THOMAS A. EDISON, INCORPORATED, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1911.

Application filed June 17. 1908. Serial No. 438,896.

To all whom (it may concern:

Be it known that I, AnoLPii F. GALL, :1 citizen of the United States,residing at. No. 212 Valley road, in the town of lVest Orange, 5 countyof Essex. and State of New Jersey,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticFilm-Protecting Screcnsfor Kinetoscopes, of which the following is adescription.

10 My invention relates to kinctoscopcs and particularly to devices forautomatically actuating the protecting screen for the inflammable movingpicture film which, in the 1 present state of the art, is composedprincipally of celluloid and, when stationary or moving at a slow rateof speed and subject ed to the high heat of the projecting lamp, isliable to become ignited and destroyed.

Numerous devices have been constructed for 20, this purpose, many ofwhich have been operated by'frictional contact with a moving partconnected with the actuating mechanism of the projecting machine. vices,so far as 1 am aware. not only rely on friction to move the screen awayfrom over the projecting aperture. when the pro jecting machine is beingoperated at a fairly high rate of speed. but rely also upon acontinuation of such friction to maintain the screen removed from theprojection aperture during the operation of the machine. In a deviceconstructed in accordance with my invention. while friction is reliedupon to move the'screen away from its position covering the projectionaperture, after the screen has been moved to such adjusted po sition itis maintained therein by other means than friction so that the wear ofthe parts consequent upon the continued fric- 40 tion' usually reliedupon. is dispensed with and the clatter and shaking of the screen whenmaintained in adjusted position by i means of friction is whollyobviated. Much less energ is required to operate a project ing'machineequipped with a screen so constructed and controlled as the frictionpractically ceases as soon as the screen has been moved from over theprojection aperture and the loss of energy from frictionally maintainingthe screen in the open position.

as is the usual practice. is prevented.

ith these and related objects in view. myinvention consists in theparts. improve Such de' ments and combinations hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, reference ishereby made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, wherein the same reference numerals are applied uniformlyto designate the same parts and in which Figure 1 is a front.elevational View of the door of a kinctoscope of the Edison type, havingattached thereto an automatic film protecting screen. and actuatingmechanism therefor. constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. isa vertical cross-sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken at: right angles to Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation, showing the screen in its normaland adjusted positions, the latter position being indicated in dottedlines. Fig. an enlarged detail view of certain parts shown in Fig. 3,and Fig. (3 is a vertical. sectional view. taken on line 66, Fig. 2. ofthe shell and bushing which carries the weights of the centrifuge.

Reference numeral 1 indicates a kinetoscope door which is hinged to theframe or body A of the kinetoscope, by means of a rod passing throughapertures 2. :2, in lugs El. 3. The door 1 is provided with theusualprojection aperture 4. opposite the correspondingprojectionaperture in the frame of the kinetoscope. and with springs 5 fortensioning the film and holding itv flat against the body of thekinetoscope. as it passes the projection aperture. The automatic filmprotecting screen is shown atv (i. A rod or shaft. 7 is journaled at oneof its ends in the door 1. and at its opposite end in the bracket 8.secured to the door. The shaf 7 has on its inner end a means forimparting rotation thereto which. in the construction shown. is abevel-gear 9 meshing with a similar gear 10. which is actuated from thefilm moving mechanism of the kinetoscope. as will be understood. hen thedoor 1 is opened. by turning on its hinge, the gears 9 and 10 will bedisengaged from one another. and these gears will automaticallybe throwninto mesh when the door is closed. The gear 9 and collar 11. secured asby means of a screw 12 to the opposite end of. the shaft 7 maintain thisshaft in posiotherwise open end of the shell 19.

shell 19, having an inturned flange 20, is

fitted over the bushing 13, and secured thereto by any convenient means,as for example, by screws 21. The sleeve 22,- carrying a disk 23, isslidably mounted upon the shaft 7, the disk 23' serving to close lt iie1e endof'the sleeve 22 next. the arms 17 of the weights 16, is enlarged,as shown at 24, sothat the arms 17.wil1, at all times, have a bearingagainst the end thereof. On the end of the sleeve 22, whichprojectswithout the shell 19, the screen 6 is rotatably mounted, a light'spring25 being interposed between the disk 23, which operates as a frictiondisk, and the screen 6, recesses being provided within the said disk andscreen for receiving this spring 25. A collar 26 serves to keep thescreen 6 in its position upon the sleeve 22.

Any convenient means may be provided to cause the sleeve 22. to rotatewith the bushing 13, and atthe same time, be longitudinally movable uponthe shaft 7. The

' means which I prefer to use and have illustrated for-this purpose,comprises screws 27, seated in recesses 28, in the bushing 13, passingloosely through openings at the bottom of said recesses, and screwedwithin the enlarged end 24 of the sleeve 22. Springs 29 are interposedbetween the heads of the screws 2? and the bottoms of the recesses 28.Then the sleeve 22 is moved toward the door 1, the collar 26 fits withinthe recess 30 within the door. A stop-pin 31 is secured to the rear faceof the door and serves to limit the movement of the screen 6, in eachdirection. as will be apparent from Figs. 1. and +1.

32 represents the latch for securing the door in its closed positionupon the frame of the kinetoscope.

The screen 6" and door 1 are provided with any convenient form of innerlocking means for holding the screen positively open when it is in theposition shown in dotted lines, in Fig. 4. The devices which I haveillustrated for this purpose, and which I prefer to use, consist of pins33 secured within the door 1. and cooperating openings 34, in the screen6, so positioned that when the screen is sutliciently moved away fromits position, closing the projection aperture, these pins and holes willbe opposite one another, so that the screen will be pushed onto the pinsand positively heldthereby. The counterweight serves to restore thescreen 6 to its normal position covering the projection aperture whenthe screen is released.

follows: The door having been opened, the film is threaded into themachine, in the usual way, between-the frame of the kinetoscope and thedoor. The door is then closed, throwing into engagement the bevel-gears9 and 10, which had been disengaged while the door was openr' Thekinetoscope being now operated by the usual crank or other means,rotation is imparted fromthe bevelgear 10 through the'similar gear 9, toshaft tates therewith, and the weights '16 are thrown outward by theaction of centrifugal force, the arms 17 operating to move the sleeve 22toward the door 1, against the action of the springs 29. The disk 23,being rotated with the shaft/7 and bushing 13, and being pushed againstthe screen 6, which cannot move longitudinally on the shaft because thepins 32 are not yet opposite the openings 33, causes the latter torotate, by means of its frictional contact therewith, and at the sametime, tends to push the screen 6 toward the door 1. The screen 6, havingbeen rotated by the frictional contact of the rotating disk 23 therewithto the position where the pins 33 are opposite the openings 34, ispushed toward the door 1, the pins entering the openings and serving tomaintain the screen in its opened position, so long as it remains uponthe pins. This bodily movement of the screen 6, and sleeve permits theweight 16 to move outward until they contact with the-shell 19, which ismoving at the same rate of speed and they remain in contact therewithuntil the rate of speed at which the projecting machine is operated isdecreased. By this means, substantially all the friction between thevarious parts is eliminated during the time when the screen is open, andit is positively maintained in its opened position without any of theclatter or shaking which results when friction is relied upon for thispurpose. When the rate of speed at which the film is moved is lessened,and the centrifugal force, tending to throw the weights 16 out-ward, isovercome by the action of the springs #29, the sleeve will be withdrawnaway from the door and the screen 6 will be pulled ofi the pins 3:2, bymeans of the collar :26. and thc counterweight 35 will operate to lrestore it to its normal position, closing the projection aperture. Thespring 25, which is of light n'iaterial, serves to keep the coactingsurfaces of the disk 23 and screen 6 from actual contact with oneanother, except when they are forcibly pushed together, and does awaywith any friction between three surfaces when the screen is being heldupon the pins 33. all frictional contact atsuch times being confined tothe narrow re- The operation of my improved device is as i 7, thebushing 13 secured to the shaft 7 rogion in which the said springcontacts with these surfaces.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In a kinetoscope provided with, a projection aperture, a screennormally covering the said aperture, means for moving it from over saidaperture, and additional means cooperating directly with said screen forpositively holding it in saidadjusted position,

substantially as set forth.

2. In a kinetoscope provided with a projection aperture, a screennormally covering the said aperture, frictionally operated means formoving said screen from over said aperture, and additional meanscoopcrating directly with said screen for positively holding it in thisadjusted position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a kinetoscope, thecombination of a frame, a door pivoted theretoand provided with a projection aperture, :1 screen on'said door andnormally closing said aperture,

m ans for moving said screen from over said aperture, and additionalmeans for positively holding it in its adjusted position, substantiallyas set forth.

4. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a frame, a door pivoted thereto,and provided with a projection aperture, a screen on said door andnormally covering said aperture, frictionally operated means for movingsaid screen from over said aperture, and additional means for positivelyholding it in such adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a kinetoscope, the combination with a frame, of a door pivotedthereto and provided with a projection aperture, a screen, meanssituated partly upon said door and partly upon the frame for moving saidscreen from over said 'aperture,,and additional means for positivelyholding it in such adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

(3. In a kinetoscope, a rotatable screen,

fixed holding means therefor, and means for rotating said screen, andfor establishing an operative connection between said screen and holdingmeans,substantially set forth.

' 7. In a kinetoscope, a rotatable screen, fixed holdingmeans therefor,and means operating byifriction to rotate said screen and also operatingto establish an operative connection between said screen and holdingmeans. substantially as set forth.

8. In a kinctoscope. a. frame, a door piw 'oted thereto, a rotatablescreen on said door, holding means for the said screen, and means. forrotating said screen and for establishing an operative connectionbetween the screen and the holding means, substan-.

tially as set forth.

9. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a frame, a door pivoted thereto,a screen pivotally supported upon said door, holding means for the saidscreen, and means operating by friction to turn said screen upon itspivot and also operating to connect said screen and holding means,substantially as set forth.

10. In a kinetoscope, the combination with a frame, of a door pivotedthereto. a screen pivotally mounted on said door, holding means for saidscreen, and means situated partly upon said door and partly upon theframe for frictionally turning'said screen upon its pivot and" forestablishing an operative connection between said screen and holdingmeans, substantially as set forth.

11. In a kinetoscope, the combination with a frame, of a door pivotedthereto and provided with a projection aperture, a screen pivotallymounted upon said door, holding means for said screen, means situatedpartly upon said door and partly upon the frame for moving said screenfrom over said projection aperture and for establishing an operativeconnection between said screen and holding means, said means being sosituated as to cooperate only when the door is closed. substantially assetforth.

12. In akinetoscope, a pivotally mounted and bodily movable screen,holding means therefor, and means for rotating said screen upon itspivot and for moving it bodily to cooperate with said holding means.substantially as set forth.

13. In a kinetoscope, a pivotally mounted and bodily movable screen,holding means therefor, and means operating by friction to rotate suchscreen and also operating to move said screen bodily to cooperate withsaid holding means, substantially as set forth.

14. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a frame. a door pivotedthereto, a screen pivotaliy mounted and bodily movable upon said door,holding means for said screen. and means situated partly upon the. doorand partly upon the frame for rotating said screen upon its pivot andfor bodily moving said screen to cooperate with said holding means,substantially as set forth.

1:"). In a lcinetoscope. the combination of a frame, a door pivotedthereto. a screen pivotally mounted and bodily movable upon said door.holding means for said screen. and means situated partly upon said frameand partly upon said door and controlled by the film moving mechanismfor frictionally turning said screen upon its pivot and for bodilymoving it to cooperat with the said holding means. substantially as setforth.

16. In a kinetoscope. a frame, a door pivoted thereto, a screenpivotally mounted and bodily movable upon said door. holding meanstherefor. and means located partly upon said frame and partly upon saiddoor for turning said screen upon its pivot and llO said holding means,said last named means being so situated.asto cooperate only when thedoor is closed, and not to interfere with the opening and closing of thedoor, substan} tially as setforth.

17. In a kinetoscope, a pivoted screen, a rotatable disk movably mountedin a plane parallel thereto, and a centrifuge for forcing the disktoward the screen'while the disk is being rotated, substantially as setforth.

18.In aikinetoscope, a pivoted screen, a rotatable} ;disk movablymounted adjacent theretozanch centrifuge so mounted as to force thedislt into frictional driving contact with the screen while the disk isbeing rotated, substantially as set forth.

19. In a kinetoscope, a pivoted screen, a rotatable disk movably mountedin a plane parallel'thereto, a centrifuge for forcing the disk intocontact with the screen while the disk is being rotated, and a springfor withdrawing the said disk from contact with the screen when itsspeed of rotation is diminished, substantially as set forth.

20. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a forth.

2-1. In a kinetos cope, the combination of the frame, a door hingedthereto, a rotatable screen on the door, a rotatable friction diskmovably mounted in a plane parallel to the said screen, a centrifuge forpushing the disk into contact with the screen during the rotation of thedisk, and a spring for withdrawing the said disk from contact with thescreen when the speed of rotation of the centrifuge is diminished,substantially as set forth.

22. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a frame, a door hinged thereto,a pivoted screen on said door, a rotatable bodily movable disk adjacentto said screen, a centrifuge for forcing the said disk into contact withsaid screen when the disk is rotated, and means situated partly on theframe and partly on the door for actuating the centrifuge, substantiallyas set forth.

23. In a kinetoscope, a rotatable screen, a disk adjacent thereto, acentrifuge for forcing the disk against the screen when the disk isrotated, and positive holding means for cooperating with the screen whenit has been rotated into a given'position, substantially as set forth.

In akinetoscope, a frame, a door hinged thereto, a rotatable screen onsaid door. a rotatable disk adjacent thereto, a centrifuge for forcingthe disk into contact with the'screen when the disk is rotated, the diskand centrifuge being mounted on the door, substantially as set forth. 7

25. In a kinetoscope, a frame, a door hinged thereto, a rotatablescreen, a rotata ble diskadjacent thereto, a centrifuge for forcing thedisk into contact with the screen when the disk isrotated, means forwithdrawing the disk from contact with the screen when its speed ofrotation falls, the

screen, disk and centrifuge all being mounted on the door, and meanspartly on the door andj partly on the frame for rotating the centrifugeand disk, substantially as set forth.

26. In a kinetoscope, a rotatable and bodily movable screen, providedwith one or more apertures, one or more pins adjacent to the saidscreen, and adapted to registerwith the said apertures, when the screenhas been rotated through a given angle, and means for rotating saidscreen and forcing it bodily onto the-said pins, when it has been turnedthrough the proper angle, substantially as set forth.

:27. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a frame, a door hingedthereto, a screen pivotally mounted andbodily movable on said door andprovided with one or more apertures, one or more pins on the said doorand 1 adapted to register with the said apertures when the screen hasbeen turned through a given angle, and means actuated by the film movingmechanism for rotating said screen and forcing it onto the said pinswhen it has been turned through a given angle, subvstantially as setfort-h.

28. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a frame, a door lunged thereto,a screen pivotally mounted and bodily movable upon said door andprovided with one or more apertures, one or more pins on the'said doorand adapted to register with the said apertures when the screen has beenturned through a given angle, and means located partly on the door andpartly on theframe and receiving actuation from the filmmoving-mechanism, for rotating said screen and forcing it onto the saidpins when it has been turned through the proper angle, substantially asset forth.

29. In a kinetoscope, a pivotally mounted and bodily movable screen, acentrifuge comprising rotating weights for rotating said s reen andimparting bodily movementthereto, positive holding means cotiperatingwith the said screen when the latter has been moved bodily, and meansfor limiting the outward movement of the weights of the centrifuge,substantially as set forth.

30. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a frame, a door hinged thereto,a screen pivotally mounted and. bodily movable on said door,- acentrifuge comprising rotating weightsfor rotating said screen andimparting bodily movement thereto, positive holding means forcooperating With the said screen when the latter has been moved bodily,means for limiting the outward throw of the weights of the centrifuge,and means located partly on the frame and partly on the door forimparting rotation to the centrifuge from the film moving mechanism,substantially as set forth.

31. In a kinetoscope, the combination of a frame, a door hinged theretoand provided with a projection aperture, a shaft journaled in said door,a gear on the inner end of said shaft and a corresponding gear on theframe actuated from the film moving mechanism of the kinetoscope an'dmeshing with the first named gear, when the door is closed anddisengaged therefrom when the door is opened, and not interfering withthe free opening and closing of the door, a sleeve rotatable with saidshaft and movable longitudinally thereof, a centrifuge on the said shaftfor imparting endwise movement to the sleeve, a disk secured to saidsleeve, a screen pivotally mounted on said sleeve adjacent to the diskand normally covering the projection aperture in the door, said screenbeing provided with one or more apertures, one or more 'pins on the dooradapted to register with the said apertures in the screen when thelatter has been turned through a given angle andopposing bodily movementof the said screen until it has been turned through the proper. angle, aspring for retracting the sleeve and drau ing the screen oif the saidpins when the speed of the film moving mechanism has diminished, and acounterweight for returningthe screen to its normal position over theprojection aperture, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 15th day of June 1908.

, ADOLPH F. GALL. \Vitnesses:

H. H. DYKE, FRANK D. LEWIS.

